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Scenario #235
Security
K8s v1.23, Google Cloud
Insufficiently Secured Cluster API Server Access
The API server was exposed with insufficient security, allowing unauthorized external access and increasing the risk of exploitation.
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What Happened
The Kubernetes API server was configured to allow access from external IP addresses without proper security measures such as encryption or authentication, which could be exploited by attackers.
Diagnosis Steps
- 1Inspected the API server's ingress configuration and found it was not restricted to internal networks or protected by encryption.
- 2Checked for authentication mechanisms and found that none were properly enforced for external requests.
Root Cause
Inadequate protection of the Kubernetes API server allowed unauthenticated external access.
Fix/Workaround
• Restrict access to the API server using firewall rules to allow only internal IP addresses.
• Implemented TLS encryption and client certificate authentication for secure access.Lessons Learned
Always secure the Kubernetes API server with proper network restrictions, encryption, and authentication.
How to Avoid
- 1Use firewall rules and IP whitelisting to restrict access to the API server.
- 2Enforce encryption and authentication for all external access to the API server.